Sprinkler head



SPRINKLER HEAD Filed May 14, 1962 f/mer IV icy/7010(5 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,127,110 SPRINKLER EEAD Elmer N. Reynolds, 16104Lashburn St, Whittier, Calif. Filed May 14, 1962, Ser. No. 194,443 9Claims. (Cl. 2392il4) This invention relates generally to sprinklingdevices and relates more particularly to rotary sprinkler heads.

While the invention has particular utility in connection with sprinklingheads, and is shown and described in such connection, it is to beunderstood that its utility is not confined thereto.

As is well known in the art, various problems and difficulties areencountered in the provision of suitable means for watering lawns andthe like and it is an object of the present invention to provide meansfor apparatus that will solve these problems and overcome saiddifficulties.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sprinkler head thatwill normally be substantially level with the ground surface or evensomewhat below such surface, but which has a member that is raised to anoperating position when the water is turned on and into the head.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a sprinkling headof this character wherein the raised nozzle is moved in a rotary mannerin a plurality of increments of rotation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a nozzle of thischaracter having greatly improved operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a nozzle of thischaracter that is highly effective in operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter having means for controlling the speed of rotation of thenozzle.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter having means for controlling the efiective discharge of waterfrom the device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a discharge nozzlehaving stable characteristics.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device ofthis character having a nozzle with a novel discharge orifice insert.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter that is simple and rugged in construction.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter having a relatively long life.

It is a further object or" the invention to provide a device of thischaracter having relatively few operating parts.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device ofthis character that is easy to service and maintain.

it is another object of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter requiring little repairing or servicing and which will operateeffectively over relatively long periods of time.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are furthersufficiently referred to in connection with the following detaileddescription of the accompanying drawings, which represent oneembodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons willunderstand that variations may be made without departing from theprinciples disclosed and l contemplate the employment of any structures,arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scopeor" the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a sprinkling device or headembodying the present invention, the nozzle being in the retractedposition;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the device with the parts thereof inthe operative position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a spraydevice or sprinkler head comprising a hollow body, indicated generallyat 10. The body 10 includes a lower internally threaded or tapped part12 from which there is a flaring portion 14 terminating in a cylindricalinternally threaded top portion 16. The portion 14 is intermediate thelower end portion 12 and the upper end portion 16 so that theintermediate portion 14 may be considered as be ng an invertedtrusto-conical part.

A disc 18, having external threads 20, is screwed into the lower portion12 to a position whereat the upper surface of said disc is at the lowerend of the intermediate portion 14, said disc forming a bottom memberfor said intermediate portion. Annularly arranged about the disc 18 area plurality of slots 22 which are all inclined in the same direction tocause water passing therethrough to swirl upwardly within the interiorof the intermediate portion 14, the direction of swirling motion of thewater passing through said slots being indicated by the arrows 24 inFIG. 2.

The disc 18 is also provided with a plurality of vertical openings 25therethrough, the axes of which are parallel to the axis of the disc 18.Flow of water or fluid through one of said openings 26 is controlled bya valve member 28 which comprises a flat piece of material which may beof metal, plastic, or the like. The valve 28 is disposed between thehead 30 of a screw 32 and the underside of the disc 18, said screw 32being screwed into a tapped, axial opening 34 in said disc.

The sprinkler head includes a top or cap, indicated generally at 38. Cap38 includes a central portion 40 having a depending flange 42 which iscoaxial with the cap or cover 38, said flange being externally threadedand screwed into the upper portion 16 of the body 10.

Central portion 40 has an axial bore 44 therethrough which communicatesat its lower end with a chamber 46 peripherally defined by flange 42,the upper end of said chamber being defined by the lower wall 43 of thecentral portion 40 of the cap or cover. From the central portion 4d ofthe cap or cover there extends an annular flange 50 thereabout, saidflange 50 being inclined downwardly and being provided with a peripheralrirn 52.

Intermediate portion 14 and the lower part of the upper portion 16 isprovided with a coil spring 54 the outside of which corresponds in shapeto the interior shape or" the intermediate portion 14 and the lower partof the upper portion 16. The lower end of the spring 54 engages or isadjacent to the upper side of the disc 18 and the coils of that portionof spring 54- disposed within the intermediate portion 14 of the bodynormally are in contact with each other. The upper part of the spring54, that is, the part of said spring disposed within the lower part ofportion 16 of the body, is loosely coiled so that the respective coilsare spaced apart, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is to be noted thatthe portion of the spring 54 disposed in the intermediate portion 14 ofthe body is frusto-conical in shape but inverted, so that the smallerend of said spring is at the bottom. The upper portion of the spring 54disposed Within the top portion 16 of the body, is cylindrical. When thespring 54 is within the body 10 and the cap or cover 38 screwed into theupper portion 16 of said body, the upper coils of said spring are placedunder compression so that, in effect, the

entire spring is under compression. It is to be noted that the loweredge of the flange 42 of the cover 38 engages the upper end of spring 54and provides a reaction shoulder for the upper end of said spring toresiliently hold spring 54 in body or housing 10.

Within the bore 44 of the cap or cover 38 is rotatably and slidablydisposed the upper cylindrical part 60 of a nozzle indicated generallyat 62. At its lower end nozzle part 60 has an outwardly extendingannular flange 64 and there is a pair of washers 66 on the lower end ofthe cylindrical part 60 and supported by the flange 64. Washers 66 serveas friction reducing bearings between the flange 64 of the nozzle andthe upper wall 48 of the chamber 46, as best shown in FIG. 2.

Cylindrical part 60 of the nozzle 62 is provided with an interiorchamber 68 which is closed at its upper end, as best shown in FIG. 1.Adjacent the lower end of nozzle part 60 there is a grille havingopenings 70 therein, the vertical Walls 72 extending upwardly in spacedparallel relationship to each other, there being cross walls 74interconnecting said walls 72 and defining the inner end of the openings70. The walls 72 and 74 serve to direct the water or fluid upwardly intothe chamber 68 and prevent swirling of the water in said chamber.

While the main function of the grille is to disperse the suction tendingto suck the ball up into the nozzle 62, it also functions to physicallyprevent the ball from going up into said nozzle so that said ball willrevolve about in the upper end of body of the device.

Nozzle 62 is provided with a primary discharge jet comprising an insert78 which is press-fitted or otherwise suitably secured in a bore 80which extends from the chamber 68 at an upwardly and outwardly inclinedangle. The outer portion of the bore 80 is countersunk, as at 82. Insert78 comprises a cylindrical tubular body 82 and an enlarged head 84, thebody portion of the insert being disposed in the bore 80 and the headbeing disposed in the counterbore 82.

Brazed, welded or otherwise secured within the tubular body 82, arecrossed veins 86 and 88, which provide four longitudinally extendingpassages through the body 82 and prevent swirling of fluid or waterpassing through said insert and discharged from the discharge orifice atthe outer end thereof. It is to be noted that at the inner ends saidveins are tapered and project into the chamber 68 beyond the inner endof the insert body 82.

Diametrically opposite the principal discharge opening of the nozzle isa secondary discharge opening or orifice 90, which is inclined fromchamber 68 upwardly and outwardly, discharge orifice 90 being ofsubstantially smaller diameter than the primary discharge orifice at theouter end of the insert 78, so that there are two streams or jets ofwater discharged by the nozzle 62 when in its upper operative position,as shown in FIG. 2.

At one side of the nozzle there is a lug 92 which depends from theflange 64. Lug 92 is curved from its inner upper end downwardly andoutwardly and is also curved arcuately outwardly in opposite directionsfrom an inner central region. Within that portion of the body betweenthe disc 18 and the cover 38 is disposed a ball 94 which may be of anysuitable character, said ball being shown, however, as a steel ball,such as a ball bearing, which may be plated with rust orcorrosionresistant material, such as chromium, or any other suitablematerial. The diameter of ball 94 is smaller than the diameter of thelower end of the intermediate body portion 14, and said ball is adaptedto be forced upwardly and circularly within the body 10 by the waterflowing through the slots 22.

Fluid or water is supplied to the sprinkler head by a conduit or pipe 98which is vertically disposed and provided at its upper end with anexternally threaded end portion which is threadably received within thelower end portion of the lower body portion 12.

When the water is turned off and the device is inoperative the parts arein the position shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle being telescoped into theinterior of the body 10 with the lower grilled end resting on the ball94 which, in turn, rests on the disc 18.

When water is turned into the sprinkler head the water from the pipe 98flows upwardly through the slots 22 into the interior of the bodybetween the disc 18 and cap 38. There is also an upward flow of waterthrough the openings 26 in the disc 18. The water flowing into theinterior of the body forces the nozzle upwardly to the position shown inFIG. 2 and causes the ball 94 to move in an upward spiral path on theinterior of the spring 54. The swirling action of the water causes theball to whirl around in the spring 54 and when the ball reaches itsupper position, as shown in FIG. 2, it will strike the lug 54 and causethe nozzle to rotate a limited amount. Because of the curved innersurface of the lug 92, the ball will pass over said surface and beyondthe lug. The ball will continue to move around on the interior surfacesof the coils of the spring 54 and will engage the underside of theflange 64 of the nozzle.

When the ball has moved in its circular path until it reaches the lug 92it will again strike said lug and rotate the nozzle another increment ofmovement. This operation will continue as long as there is watersupplied to the device.

It is to be noted that the water flowing through the openings 26 isdirected into the interior of the body 10 generally parallel to the axisthereof and the streams of water from said openings 26 will reduce theswirling action of the water entering the interior of the body throughthe slots 22.

While there may be any desired number of openings 26, it has been foundthat two such openings are satisfactory and by varying the effectivesize of one of said openings 26 by means of the valve 23, the effectiveswirling action on the ball 94 may be varied to meet any particularrequirements of an installation.

Water which has entered the interior of the body flows through theopening 70 of the grille at the lower end of the nozzle 62 and entersthe chamber 68. From this chamber the primary discharge is through theinsert 78 which has the primary discharge opening at its outer end. Thesecondary spray of water is delivered through the orifice and the jetsor sprays of water from the primary and secondary discharge orificesmoves in a circular path as the nozzle 62 is moved in rotary incrementsby ball 94.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from theforegoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of theinvention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof orsacrificing its material advantages, the embodiment hereinbeforedescribed being merely for purposes of illustration.

I claim:

1. A sprinkier head, comprising:

(A) a hollow body having (a) an intermediate portion flaring from thelower to the upper end thereof,

(b) a depending internally threaded tubular nipple portion forattachment to a fluid supply conduit, said nipple portion being ofapproximately the same diameter as the lower end of the intermediateportion,

(c) and an internally threaded upper portion of substantially the samediameter as the diameter of the upper end of said intermediate portion;

(13) an externally threaded disc threadably disposed in the upper end ofthe nipple portion, said disc having a plurality of annularly spacedslots inclined from the vertical in the same direction and a pluralityof openings therethrough having axes parallel to the axis of said disc,said disc having an axially arranged tapped opening therein,

(a) a screw threadably disposed in said tapped opening,

(b) and a flat valve member pivotally disposed on said screw and movablerelative to one of said openings to vary the effective size thereof,said valve member being secured in adjusted position by said screw;

(0) a coil spring having a frusto-conical portion adapted to be receivedin the intermediate portion of said body and the upper portion of saidbody, the portion of the spring in the intermediate portion having itscoils in contact with each other while the upper portion of said springhas its coils spaced apart;

(D) a cover comprising a central portion with an externally threadeddepending flange threadably disposed in the upper part of the upperportion of the body, said central portion having a relatively largeaxial bore therethrough, the upper end of said spring reacting againstthe lower edge of said flange;

(E) a nozzle having (a) a cylindrical part with a chamber therein closedat the top, said cylindrical part being slidably disposed in said borein the central portion of the cover,

(b) an annular outwardly extending flange on the lower end of saidcylindrical part,

(c) a grille at the lower end of said chamber having fluid openings fromthe lower end of said cylindrical part into said chamber, said grilleincluding upstanding vanes,

(d) a lug depending from said flange at one side thereof and having itsinner side curved downwardly and outwardly from the flange and alsohaving a horizontal curvature,

(e) a pair of washers on said cylindrical part resting on the upper sideof said flange,

(f) a pair of passages extending from the chamber in the cylindricalpart upwardly and outwardly, one of said passages being substantiallylarger than the other, said other passage providing a secondary sprayorifice, there being a counterbore at the outer end of the largerpassage,

(g) an insert comprising a tubular part having an outwardly extendingannular flange at the outer end, said tubular part being received in thelarger passage and the flange thereof being disposed in the counterbore,there being a primary fluid discharge orifice at the outer end of saidinsert, and crossed vanes in the tubular part, the inner ends of saidvanes being rounded and extending outwardly of the inner end of saidtubular part;

(F) and a ball disposed in the intercediate part of the body between thedisc and the lower end of said nozzle, said ball being of smallerdiameter than the inside diameter of the lower end of the spring.

2. A sprinkler head, comprising:

(A) a hollow body having an intermediate portion flaring from the lowerto the upper end thereof, and an internally threaded upper portion ofsubstantially the same diameter as the diameter of the upper end of saidintermediate portion;

(B) an externally threaded disc threadably disposed at the lower end ofsaid intermediate portion, said disc having a plurality of annularlyspaced slots inclined from the vertical in the same direction and anopening therethrough having its axis parallel to the axis of said disc,

(a) a flat valve member adjustable relative to said opening to vary theeffective size thereof;

(C) a coil spring having a frusto-conical portion adapted to be receivedin the intermediate portion of said body and the upper portion of saidbody, the portion of the spring in the intermediate portion 6 having itscoils in contact with each other while the upper portion of said springhas its coils spaced apart;

(D) a cover comprising a central portion with an ex ternally threadeddepending flange threadably disposed in the upper part of the upperportion of the body and compressing said spring, said central portionhaving a relatively large axial bore therethrough;

(E) a nozzle having (a) a cylindrical part with a chamber therein closedat the top, said cylindrical part being slidably disposed in said borein the central portion of the cover.

(b) an annular outwardly extending flange on the lower end of saidcylindrical part,

(c) a grille at the lower end of said chamber having fluid openings fromthe lower end of said cylindrical part into said chamber,

(d) a lug depending from said flange at one side thereof and having itsinner side horizontally,

(e) a pair of washers on said cylindrical part resting on the upper sideof said flange,

(f) a pair of passages extending from the chamber in the cylindricalpart upwardly and outwardly, one of said passages being substantiallylarger than the other,

(g) a tubular insert secured in the larger passage and having a primaryfluid discharge orifice at the outer end, and crossed vanes in saidtubular insert;

(F) and a ball disposed inside said spring between the disc and thelower end of said nozzle.

3. In a sprinkler head:

(A) a hollow body including (a) a portion flaring from the lower to theupper end thereof,

(b) and an upper portion of substantially the same diameter as thediameter of the upper end of said flaring portion;

(B) a disc operably disposed at the lower end of said flaring portion,said disc having a plurality of annularly spaced slots inclined from thevertical in the same direction,

(C) a coil spring having a flaring portion adapted to be received in theintermediate portion of said body, the portion having its coils incontact with each other while the upper portion of said spring has itscoils spaced apart;

(D) a cover comprising (a) a central portion with a depending flangesecured in the upper portion of the body and engaging the upper end ofsaid spring, said central portion of the cover having a relatively largeaxial bore therethrough;

(E) a nozzle having (a) a cylindrical part with a chamber therein closedat the top and having discharge means adjacent the top thereof, therebeing openings in the lower end of said nozzle communicating with saidchamber, said cylindrical part being slidably disposed in said bore inthe central portion of the cover,

(b) an annular outwardly extending flange on the lower end of saidcylindrical part,

(c) a depending lug at the lower end of said nozzle, said cylindricalpart also having a pair of discharge orifices extending from the chamberin the cylindrical part upwardly and outwardly; one of said passagesbeing substantially larger than the other,

(F) and a ball disposed inside the spring between the disc and the lowerend of said nozzle.

4. In a sprinkler head:

(A) a hollow body having its interior flaring upwardly;

(B) a resilient spring resiliently secured in said body,

7 said spring fitting the flaring interior of said body and having atleast a portion of the upper end thereof resiliently yieldablylaterally;

(C) a nozzle slidably and rotatably mounted in the upper end of saidbody, and moved to an upper operative position by fluid pressure in saidhousing, said nozzle having a primary and secondary discharge orifice;

(D) means limiting outward sliding movement of said nozzle;

(E) a lug on the lower end of said nozzle and at one side thereof;

(F) a ball operably disposed within the spring;

(G) .and means for introducing fluid into the lower end of said body andeffecting swirling of said fluid within said spring to cause said ballto circulate upwardly for intermittent engagement with said lug.

5. In a sprinkler head:

(A) a housing having a hollow interior flaring toward one end, saidhousing having obliquely arranged inlet means at the smaller end;

(B) a coil spring of substantially the same shape as the flaring housinginterior and providing a resilient lining for same;

(C) a nozzle operably mounted at the larger end of said housing forlongitudinal movement by fluid pressure in said housing and forrotatable movement, said nozzle having a fluid inlet and fluid dischargemeans open when said nozzle is moved to an extend ed position, saidnozzle having a projection at the inner end;

(D) and .a spherical element within said spring and movable upwardly andcircularly by fluid introduced through said inlet.

6. A nozzle for sprinkler heads, comprising:

(A) a hollow cylindrical part with a chamber therein closed at one end;

(B) an annular outwardly extending flange on the end of said cylindricalpart opposite the closed end;

(C) a lug extending longitudinally from said flange and at one sidethereof;

(D) said cylindrical part having a pair of passages extending outwardlyfrom the chamber in the cylindrical part, one of said passages beingsubstantially larger than the other, said other passage providing asecondary spray orifice, there being a counterbore at the outer end ofthe larger passage;

(E) and an insert comprising a tubular part having an outwardlyextending annular flange at the outer end, said tubular part beingreceived in the larger passage and the flange thereof being disposed inthe counterbore, there being a primary fluid discharge orifice at theouter end of said insert, and crossed vanes in the tubular part.

7. In a sprinkler head:

(A) a hollow body having its interior flaring upwardly and its toppartially closed by an apertured cap;

(B) a nozzle having a cylindrical part with a chamber therein, closed atone end and having at least one discharge opening;

(C) an annularly outwardly extending flange on the end of saidcylindrical part opposite the closed end of said chamber;

(D) a lug extending longitudinally from said flange and at one sidethereof and having its inner side curved outwardly from the flange andtoward the free end and also having a lateral curvature,

(E) said nozzle being rotatably mounted in said cap;

(F) a ball operably disposed within the body;

(G) and means for introducing fluid into the lower end of said body andeffecting swirling of said fluid within said body to cause said ball tocirculate upwardly for intermittent engagement with said lug.

8. In a sprinkler head:

(A) a housing having a hollow interior;

(B) a coil spring resiliently lining at least a portion of the interiorof said housing, said spring flaring from the lower toward the upperend;

(C) a nozzle operably mounted at said upper end of said housing forlongitudinal movement outwardly thereof and for rotatable movement, saidnozzle having fluid inlet, and fluid discharge means open when saidnozzle is moved to an extended position, said nozzle having a projectionat the inner end;

(D) and a movable element within said housing, movable upwardly andcircularly by fluid introduced into said housing for intermittentengagement with said projection.

9. In a sprinkler head:

(A) a hollow body, the interior of which flares upwardly, said bodyhaving an inlet at the lower end;

(B) a resilient spring in said body of substantially the shape of theinterior thereof and resiliently secured therein;

(C) a nozzle operably mounted at the upper end of said body forrotational movement, said nozzle having an inlet and at least onedischarge orifice;

(D) a projection at the lower end of said nozzle offset from the axisthereof;

(E) and means for swirling fluid introduced into said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,919,243 Munz July 25, 1933 1,921,020 Birrell Aug. 8, 1933 2,009,478Coles et a1 July 30, 1935 2,052,673 Stanton Sept. 1, 1936 2,110,112Rippey Mar. 1, 1938 2,335,604 Ohlinger Nov. 30, 1943 2,639,191 Hruby May19, 1953 2,756,099 Reynolds July 24, 1956 2,990,120 Reynolds June 27,1961 3,062,456 Thompson et al. Nov. 6, 1962

7. IN A SPRINKLER HEAD: (A) A HOLLOW BODY HAVING ITS INTERIOR FLARINGUPWARDLY AND ITS TOP PARTIALLY CLOSED BY AN APERTURED CAP; (B) A NOZZLEHAVING A CYLINDRICAL PART WITH A CHAMBER THEREIN, CLOSED AT ONE END ANDHAVING AT LEAST ONE DISCHARGE OPENING; (C) AN ANNULARLY OUTWARDLYEXTENDING FLANGE ON THE END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PART OPPOSITE THE CLOSEDEND OF SAID CHAMBER; (D) A LUG EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM SAID FLANGEAND AT ONE SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING ITS INNER SIDE CURVED OUTWARDLY FROMTHE FLANGE AND TOWARD THE FREE END AND ALSO HAVING A LATERAL CURVATURE,(E) SAID NOZZLE BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CAP; (F) A BALL OPERABLYDISPOSED WITHIN THE BODY; (G) AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING FLUID INTO THELOWER END OF SAID BODY AND EFFECTING SWIRLING OF SAID FLUID WITHIN SAIDBODY TO CAUSE SAID BALL TO CIRCULATE UPWARDLY FOR INTERMITTENTENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LUG.